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Video: Google’s self-driving car test drive

Google's self driving car
We may not have flying cars (yet), or robots that serve our every needs, but Google is championing at least one technology that could change the world as we know it, and bring the hopes of so much science fiction to reality.

Revealed in 2010, Google has been testing and pioneering their self-driving system that puts a computer in complete control of a car, using advanced technology to safely drive the vehicle while following the rules of the road, including, as the video shows, stopping at an intersection and checking if there are oncoming vehicles before it proceeds on its route.

“Having safely completed over 200,000 miles of computer-led driving, we wanted to share one of our favorite moments,” Google states in the video description. “Here’s Steve, who joined us for a special drive on a carefully programmed route to experience being behind the wheel in a whole new way. We organized this test as a technical experiment, but we think it’s also a promising look at what autonomous technology may one day deliver if rigorous technology and safety standards can be met.”

The important part to note here is that Steve is no ordinary test driver; Steve has unfortunately lost 95% of his vision, and that means that technology like this could actually help him get around much easier.

As a technology nerd, this is fascinating stuff, and if it’s successful, it will undoubtedly change how people get around, and potentially even make driving a much safer experience.

W. Andrew Powell lives, sleeps, eats, and breaths movies and entertainment. Since launching The GATE in 1999 Andrew has enjoyed being a pest to any publicist who would return his calls.
In his "spare time," Andrew is also an avid photographer, and writes about leisure travel and hotels around the world.

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